Piper Aztec

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Image:PiperAztecToronto.jpg The Piper PA-23, named Apache and later Aztec, was the first twin-engine aircraft built by Piper Aircraft.

Originally to be named the "Twin-Stinson" and designed as a four-seater low-wing all-metal monoplane, the prototype first flew 2 March 1952. The prototype was then numerically named the PA-21 to conform to Piper's numerical nomenclature[1] It was redesigned with a single verticle stabilizer and an all-metal rear fuselage and renamed to "Apache 150" when it entered production in 1954; 1,231 were built. In 1958, the Apache 160 was produced by upgrading the engines to 160 hp (119 kW), and 816 were built before being superseded by the Apache 235, which went to 235 hp (175 kW) engines and swept tail surfaces (119 built).

Declining sales of the Apache prompted the redesign dubbed PA-23-250 Aztec, with 250 hp (186 kW) Lycoming IO-540 fuel-injected engines and six-seat capacity, which became available in 1959 and continued in production until 1982. Among other light twin-engined airplanes of its generation, the Aztec is known for its good load hauling, long endurance, stable handling, and respectable single-engine performance, at the cost of higher fuel consumption and a draggier (slower) airframe.

Part of the drag inherent to the Piper Aztec series of aircraft was due to the fact it utilized the same wing design (albeit with subtantially different dimensions and construction) to the Piper Cub series of aircraft. The Piper Cub airfoil did give the Aztec superior short field operation characteristics at the price of speedier performance.

The US Navy acquired 20 Aztecs, designating them UO-1, which changed to U-11A when unified designations were adopted in 1962.

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